Nat
/næt/noun
A unit of information equal to the amount of information in an event with probability 1/e, or approximately 1.443 bits.
Did you know?The nat is based on natural logarithms, so its name ultimately connects information theory with the mathematical language of exponential growth and decay.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*gene-
“To give birth, beget, or produce; the reconstructed root behind many words connected with birth and origin.”
Classical Latin
Latin
nasci
“To be born.”
Classical Latin
Latin
natura
“Birth, innate character, or the natural order of things.”
Late Latin
Latin
naturalis
“Natural; relating to the nature or inherent character of something.”
19th Century
Mathematics
natural logarithm
“A logarithm using the base e, the constant approximately equal to 2.71828.”
1948
English
nat
“A proposed unit of information based on the natural logarithm, later used in information theory.”
Modern English
English
nat
“A unit of information equal to one natural-logarithmic unit.”